May Day (88/05/01)
This first day of May is known as May Day in many Western countries where traditional festivities welcome the coming of spring. In most industrialized countries, May Day is also celebrated as a day to recognize and promote the interests of laborers. On this Christian day of rest and worship, I will mention three Bible verses that contain the word "labor". First, in the Old Testament book of Isaiah, chapter 55, verse 2, it is written: "Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy?" This call to reflect upon the ultimate aim of one's labor is especially relevant to the hard-working Japanese people. Why do they work so hard? Does their work bring true satisfaction? In the New Testament Gospel of John, chapter 6, verse 27, Jesus advises, "Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life." These words also encourage reflection upon what kind of satisfaction our labor brings. Is it temporary or long-lasting? Finally, Jesus' words found in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 11, verse 28; "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest." The spiritual rest and satisfaction found through a healthy faith in the Savior may be likened to the coming of spring. (2558)
Hachi-jū-hachi-ya (88/05/02)
According to the traditional Japanese almanac, today is the 89th day after the beginning of spring. Is there anything special about that? No, there isn't. But yesterday was the 88th day, called hachi-jū-hachi-ya, literally meaning 88th night, and that is a special day for Japanese farmers, who now begin sowing seed for their rice paddies. Eighty-eight is a special number in Japanese tradition. A special celebration is held on one's 88th birthday, called beiju, which literally means "rice age" or "rice congratulations" since the Chinese character for "rice" may be seen as consisting of an eight, a ten and another eight. There are also 88 sacred sites to visit on a pilgrimage to the island of Shikoku. The seed-sowing season is not only important for farmers. We are also sowing seeds by our words and actions every day. What kind of fruit will they bear? (2559)
Constitution Day (88/05/03)
Today is the second of the so-called "Golden Week" holidays, called Constitution Day. The present Japanese Constitution was promulgated on November 3, 1946 and went into effect six months later, on May 3, 1947, 41 years ago today. This Constitution makes clear that sovereignty rests with the people and guarantees fundamental human rights. But what makes it unique is its renunciation of war and of the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes. It states that "land, sea, and air forces, as well as other war potential, will never be maintained." Do you think Japan is obeying its constitution? Today is also Constitution Day in Poland, commemorating the day that country's first constitution was adopted in 1794. "Constitution" may refer to the physical make-up of a person. Some people have a strong constitution and others are constitutionally weak. Although "constitutional" is usually an adjective, referring to a constitution, it may also be used as a noun, meaning "a walk taken regularly for one's health." Charles Dickens wrote: "walk and be happy; walk and be healthy. The best way to lengthen out our days is to walk steadily and with a purpose.". (2560)
Horace Mann (88/05/04)
The man who became known as the Father of American Public Education was born 192 years ago today, on May 4; 1796. He was a man in more ways than one, for Mann was his surname. Horace Mann was born into a poor family and received a very limited formal education as a child. However, he studied on his own at the town library and was admitted into university as a sophomore at the age of 20. He became a lawyer, but his deep concern for humanitarian causes impelled him to enter politics with the aim of making a contribution to society. As secretary of the Massachusetts Board of Education, which he helped to establish, he successfully aroused public opinion to improve the public schools and to train better teachers. When he was a child, he spent less than ten weeks a year in school under poor teachers, but as Secretary of Education he helped secure a state law requiring children under 12 to spend at least six months of the year in school and established the nation's first state normal school, which is a school that trains teachers. Horace Mann called education "a great equalizer of the conditions of men -- the balance wheel of the social machinery." (2561)
Iris (88/05/05)
Iris, spelled I-r-i-s, is a feminine name. It was the name of the goddess of the rainbow in Greek mythology. It is also the name for that rainbow-tinted part of the eye, called kōsai in Japanese. Iris is also the name of a plant, having narrow, sword shaped leaves and showy, variously colored flowers. The plant called shōbu in Japanese is a kind of iris. There is an old Japanese custom of putting shōbu leaves in the bath water or in saké on this 5th day of the 5th month as a means of warding off evil. Because another word meaning militarism or warlike spirit is also pronounced shōbu, this tango no-sekku was given a masculine emphasis in contrast to the feminine joshi no-sekku, in March. Swords, helmets and carp streamers are the traditional decorations for this boys' day. In present-day Japan, however, this day is celebrated as Children's Day and marks the conclusion of "Golden Week". Children are an important part of any nation and the future of the country will be in their hands. Thus, it is important to properly train them from their earliest days. In Proverbs 22:6, it is written, "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." (2562)
Calories and exercise (88/05/06)
Some people are concerned about calories these days. Do you know what a calorie is? Derived from the Latin word for "heat", it is the quantity of heat required to raise the temperature of one gram of water one degree Centigrade. Nowadays, it is also used to express the energy value of food. If we take in more calories than we burn up in energy, we will gain weight which may lead to physical problems including heart trouble. A recent survey has shown that the diet of Japanese people is improving because they are eating a greater variety of foods and consuming less calories. Eating many calories is all right if we get enough exercise to burn up excess energy instead of letting our bodies get fat. However, we must exercise with care. People who go to extremes in exercising may damage their bodies in the process. Those who exercise heavily actually have a shorter life expectancy than more moderate exercisers. Regular exercise is good for us, both physically and mentally. It can help relieve stress and prevent disease. But as with other activities, it should be done in moderation. An English clergyman, Joseph Hall, has written that "Moderation is the silken string running through the pearl chain of all virtues." (2563)
Kentucky Derby (88/05/07)
Derby is the name of a county in central England where dairy farming and sheep raising are important occupations. Derby, in American English, is also the name given to a particular kind of men's hat--a stiff felt hat with a round crown and a narrow, curved brim that is called a bowler in England. It was a favorite hat of the 12th Earl of Derby who, in 1780, offered a prize to the winner of a race of three-year-old horses. That was the beginning of the annual horserace held since then in Epsom Downs, near London, and called the Derby. Now, horse races and many other kinds of races in various places are also called derbies. The most famous derby in the United States is the Kentucky Derby, which is held every year on this first Saturday of May at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Today will be the 114th "Run for the Roses", as this derby is sometimes called because a wreath of roses is placed on the winning horse's neck. Over 100,000 spectators will be watching from the stands while millions more watch on television. The Roman poet, Ovid, wrote that "A horse never runs so fast as when he has other horses to catch up and outpace". But Hungarian composer, Bela Bartok, has stated that "Competitions are for horses, not artists." (2564)
Mother's Day (88/05/08)
One meaning of the word, "child", is a very young person. In this sense, a person stops being a child when he or she becomes an adult. But another meaning of "child" is a son or daughter. In this meaning, we never cease being children in relation to our parents. Our mothers will always consider us children, which we are. According to a Jewish proverb, God could not be everywhere, and therefore he made mothers. Although this proverb does not reflect the full biblical conception of God, it does express the point that the natural attitude of a mother toward her offspring is similar to that of God toward the human family he created. In the Old Testament book of Isaiah, chapter 66, verse 13, it is written: "I will comfort you... as a mother comforts her child," This second Sunday of May is celebrated as Mother's Day. Many of us take our mother's love for granted, but on this day, we should give some visible expression of the gratitude we feel for the love she has shown us in many different ways. In "Today's English Version", a modern translation of the Bible, Proverbs 23:22 is translated: "When your mother is old, show her your appreciation." However, we should not wait until she is old. We should show our appreciation at all times, and especially on this Mother's Day, (2565)
"Peter Pan" (88/05/09)
Do you know what a "Peter Pan" is? In one meaning, it is a particular kind of collar used on some women's and children's clothing. In another meaning, it is an adult who retains the simplicity of a child. Both of these meanings come from a children's drama about Peter Pan, a boy who refused to grow up. Rather, he ran away to Never-Never-Land and enjoyed various adventures with fairy playmates. This play was written in 1904 by Sir James Barrie, who was born in Scotland 128 years ago today, on May 9, 1860. Barrie was a newspaper journalist who later wrote novels and dramas, the most famous of which was Peter Pan. The Bible teaches that we should give up our childish ways as we mature. According to I Corinthians 14:20, we should be childish so far as evil is concerned, but grown-up in our thinking. (2566)
Announcements (88/05/10)
Today's message will consist of announcements related to this telephone service. Every Thursday morning, I mail out copies of the messages for the following week to those who request them by sending me self-addressed, stamped envelopes plus ¥60 in stamps for each week of messages desired. You may send envelopes and stamps for many weeks at one time if you wish. On the 5th Sunday afternoons of the month, it is our custom to hold a meeting of "Daily Word" listeners. We will hold such a meeting on May 29th, from 1:30 to 3:30 at the NTT building, next to the Marunouchi Chūgakkō, north of the Marunouchi subway station here in Nagoya. We plan to sit in a large circle and talk about Conformity and Nonconformity in Japanese Society. You are invited to attend. Those who enjoy writing in English may write a short essay on any subject that I treat in these telephone messages and send it to me. I will correct such essays and include them in the next issue of "Daily Word" Echoes, which will be published when a sufficient number of essays has been received. Copies will then be distributed to contributors and others who request them. You may write or comment on any subject I mention in these messages. My address is: "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Past Office, Nagoya 463. (2567)
Cormorant fishing (88/05/11)
Although I don't know why, when the Chinese character for fish is combined with the character meaning fortune-telling, the resulting character signifies the tasty fish, called ayu, that is found throughout Japan, Checking my dictionary, I find that the English translation of ayu is "an ayu; a sweet-fish". However, neither of these words is found in the English dictionary I usually use, but in my unabridged dictionary, "ayu" is defined as "a small salmonlike... fish of Japan that is highly esteemed as a food fish", and the definition given for "sweetfish" is, simply, "ayu". In most countries, fish are caught with hooks or nets, but in Japan, ayu are also caught with birds. I had never heard of the bird called a cormorant, or u in Japanese, before coming to Japan, but that is the kind of bird used to catch ayu. Today, May 11th, is the day the cormorant fishing season opens on the Nagara River in Gifu Prefecture. In English, cormorant may also refer to a greedy person. Seeing the trained cormorants repeatedly gorge themselves with fish, they do appear to be greedy, in Christian thought; greediness is a sin. People and countries that have much should be willing to share what they have with those who have little. (2568)
Shinichi Suzuki (88/05/12)
Have you ever heard of Shinichi Suzuki? As a matter of fact, there are over two dozen Shinichi Suzukis listed in the Nagoya telephone directory. However, the particular Shinichi Suzuki I am speaking of lives in Matsumoto City in Nagano Prefecture. This 90-year-old man has not given up his aim of putting a musical instrument into the hands of every child in the United States and Japan. He is still actively engaged in teaching children and teachers from around the world his unique program for mastering the violin and other instruments. Six weeks ago, he traveled to Tokyo to inspire more than 3000 of his students from around Japan who participated in the 34th annual concert in the Tokyo Budōkan. Suzuki's method begins with parents playing tapes of classical music for infants to hear. At two years of age, a child is handed a musical instrument and instructed on how to use it. Suzuki's efforts have been more fruitful in the United States, where he has 250,000 students, than in Japan, where he has 35,000. He believes that instilling an appreciation of music into children at an early age will be a great benefit to society in the future. He emphasizes that talent is not inherited but is produced through instruction and practice. Do you think this is true in regard to learning a foreign language? (2569)
Stevie Wonder (88/05/13)
A mausoleum is a large and stately tomb. This word is derived from the name of Mausolus, an ancient ruler in Asia Minor, who planned a magnificent white marble tomb for himself which his wife erected following his death and which was considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World. A wonder is something that arouses awe, astonishment, surprise or admiration. A different kind of wonder came into existence 38 years ago today. That wonder, known as Stevie Wonder, was born in Michigan on May 13, 1950. Today, he is a world-famous musician: a songwriter, singer and pianist, who writes the music he sings and plays on the keyboard even though he is blind. At the age of three, he was already showing musical talent and, at 13, had produced a number one hit record. Since then, he has produced many successful singles and albums and, last month, he performed in various cities in Japan. Stevie Wonder, who is black, received an Academy Award for a song denouncing the apartheid system in South Africa, entitled, "I Just Called to Say I Love You." Those of us having so-called white or yellow skins should also show love to those suffering from prejudice in whatever country they may reside. (2570)
A notorious tomcat (88/05/14)
Tom is the nickname for Thomas, but sometimes it is used to refer to the male of certain animals. A male cat, for example, is commonly called a tomcat: There is a notorious tomcat named Thomas that lives near a golf club in the English city of Weston-Super-Mare. Golfers at that club who try to get rid of stress by playing golf often find that they end up more frustrated than when they began. The reason for this is that 18-month old tomcat which lies in wait beside the 15th hole. Whenever the ball lands on the green, Thomas pounces, takes the ball in his mouth and dashes some 200 meters to his home where he adds it to his collection. In the past year, Thomas has collected some 500 golf balls in this way. His owner reports that there are golf balls in pots, in the wardrobe, in chests and under the bed. On a busy day, Thomas may bring home a dozen balls before lunch. "I'm sick of it," his owner says, "but I don't know how to stop it." Some people are like Thomas. They steal what belongs to others. According to the New Testament book of Ephesians, chapter 4, verse 28, one example of the change that occurs when one becomes a Christian is that a thief stops stealing and works honestly so that he might have something to share with others. (2571)
Samaria (88/05/15)
There were three main divisions of the land of Palestine in Jesus' day. The capital city of Jerusalem, the site of the Jewish temple, was located in the southern district, called Judea. The northern district of Galilee was a rural area near a fresh water lake with the same name. Between Judea and Galilee was the district of Samaria. Residents of Samaria were descendants of mixed marriages between Jews and Gentiles who worshipped at a temple in their own district. Considered impure and heretical, they were despised by pure-blooded, orthodox Jews, who refused to associate with them. This was an example of racial or ethnic prejudice which, unfortunately, is found in the history of all nations and remains a problem even today. Jesus did not follow the prejudicial customs of his day. The fourth chapter of the Gospel of John contains his surprising conversation with a Samaritan woman and one of his famous parables, found in the tenth chapter of the Gospel of Luke, is about the "Good Samaritan" who showed mercy to a Jew who had been attacked by robbers and left by the roadside to die and who had been ignored by Jewish men of religion. "Good Samaritan" is now used to refer to any compassionate person who unselfishly helps any other person in need. It should be applicable to all followers of Jesus today. (2572)
Pebbles (88/05/16)
According to a recent news article, Japan may soon start importing pebbles from the Philippines. Pebbles are small, smooth stones. Can you imagine what use is made of Philippine pebbles in Japan? They are used by Japanese gardeners and makers of artificial ponds, rivers and pathways. In the Old Testament book of I Samuel, chapter 17, we find another use for a pebble. There is written the famous story of the young boy named David who killed a giant named Goliath using a simple sling and a pebble. With this story in mind, G. E. Bishop has given this advice: "Mark, young man, the line you succeed in will be of your own finding. The Davids in life do not slay the Goliaths of difficulty and temptation in another's armor, even though it be the king's, but with their own self-made weapons, though they be nothing more formidable than a sling and a pebble." (2573)
Tōshōgu Shrine (88/05/17)
Some Japanese words may be translated into English in many different ways. In my Japanese-English dictionary I find over two dozen ways to translate the word kekkō. I understand one is not supposed to use this word until after visiting a certain place in Japan. That place was the first place my young wife and I visited after arriving in Japan over 36 years ago, so we have been qualified to use the word ever since we began speaking Japanese. "Good, fine, nice, splendid, magnificent, wonderful" are all adjectives that maybe used to describe the sights of Nikko, both the natural handiwork of God and the artificial handiwork of man. The center of attention for those interested in architectural beauty are the buildings of the Tōshōgu Shrine, commemorating Shōgun Ieyasu Tokugawa, who was given the posthumous title of Tōshō-Daigongen, or East-Shining Great Bodhisattva, and today is the festival day of that shrine. In the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 24, when Jesus' disciples called his attention to the beautiful temple buildings, he said the time was coming when those buildings would be completely destroyed, reminding them of the transitoriness of man-made beauty.(2574)
Harry R. Truman (88/05/18)
Many Americans have two given names besides their family name. Many of us are known by our first name and use only the initial of our middle name in our signatures. The case of the 33rd president of the United States, however, was exceptional. At birth, he was not given a middle name. He was given only a middle initial, S, which could be used to refer to the name of either his mother's father or his father's father, both of which began with that letter. Harry S. Truman is now a famous name in American history. Another Harry Truman, whose middle initial was R, entered the folk history of the United States eight years ago today, when the beautiful Mount St. Helens, in the state of Washington, erupted. This 2950-meter-high volcano had been dormant for 120 years, but on May 18, 1980, a cubic mile of its summit was blown off in a violent eruption which sent a volcanic plume 18,300 meters into the air, triggered fires and mudslides, blanketed a large area with volcanic ash and killed 65 persons, including Harry R. Truman, who refused to leave his home near the mountain despite earth tremors and warnings by civil authorities. Articles and songs have been written about this man to commemorate his independent spirit. (2575)
Sports (88/05/19)
Sundays are busy days for me, so I try to relax on Mondays. For over 25 years, it has been my custom to play tennis on Monday mornings. Recently, tennis has become a popular sport in Japan. According to a survey on how residents of Tokyo, Aichi, Osaka and Fukuoka spend their spare time, 21.9 percent of the Tokyo respondents indicated that they had played tennis more than once during the past year, compared with 10.5 percent of those living in Aichi, 7 percent of those in Osaka and 1.7 percent of Fukuokans. People in Aichi recorded higher rates of participation in indoor activities, including bowling and martial sports such as judō or kendō. They also ranked high in playing pachinko, mah jongg and billiards. Fukuoka residents preferred such low-cost sports as table tennis, badminton, playing catch and hiking. Osaka residents showed the lowest overall level for participation in sports. For the health of both body and mind, some kind of regular exercise is important. On Sunday afternoon, May 29th, we will hold another meeting of listeners to these telephone messages at the NTT Building next to the Marunouchi Chūgakkō. My wife and I would like to meet you there. (2576)
Careless error (88/05/20)
In yesterday's message, I had planned to talk about the Japanese philosopher, Ikutaro Nishida, since a reference book stated that he was born on May 19th. However, another reference book gave his birthdate as April 19th. Because I didn't know which was correct, I changed the theme of my message. Insofar as possible, I try to make these messages completely accurate and reliable. Thus, I was very embarrassed when I listened to my message of May 3rd and heard my erroneous statement that the Japanese Constitution went into effect 21 years ago, in 1947. Listeners must have immediately recognized that obvious mistake, but I apologize for it and will try to be more careful in the future. This points up the deficiency of a one-man operation. Even careful writers need proofreaders to check their manuscripts for errors before publication. Even conscientious statesmen and honest bankers need to have someone look over their statements before making them public. And there must be more than one finger on buttons that can launch military operations. Because of human fallibility, democratic processes are preferable to dictatorships--not only for governments, but for households as well. Apologizing for my careless error, I recall the words of a wise preacher: "The man who makes no mistakes does not usually make anything." (2577)
Editor's note: The mistake of 21 years ago is now corrected to 41 years ago.
Alexander Pope (88/05/21)
The head of the Roman Catholic Church, who is actually the bishop of Rome, is commonly called the "Pope". This word is related to "papa", meaning "father", for in the Roman Catholic Church, not only bishops but all priests are called "Father", or shinpu, in Japanese. Of the over 250 men who have been popes, eight were named Alexander. Today is the birthday of another Pope, named Alexander, who was born in London on this day in 1688. This Alexander Pope, who became a leading English poet, is well-known for his satirical verse. Satire is a literary work in which human vice or folly is attacked through irony, derision or wit. One of Pope's verses which I like is from An Essay on Criticism, which he wrote in 1711: "Words are like leaves; and where they most abound, /Much fruit of sense beneath is rarely found." This reminds me of the strange story, in Matthew, chapter 21, of Jesus cursing a fig tree because it bore only leaves and no fruit, which may be related to his parable in Luke, chapter 13, about a man who planned to cut down his fig tree because it never bore figs. This story should cause us to reflect on our lives: do we only put forth wordy leaves or do we bear good fruit through our concrete deeds? (2578)
Pentecost (88/05/22)
As you know, a week is a period of seven days. One of the Jewish feast days prescribed in the Old Testament is called the feast of weeks because this harvest festival comes seven weeks after the important feast of Passover. Among Greek-speaking Jews, this feast came to be called Pentecost, meaning 50th day. As recorded in the second chapter of the New Testament book of the Acts of the Apostles, it was on the day of Pentecost that a remarkable event occurred which marked the birthday of the Christian Church. On that day, the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus' disciples. They were filled with divine energy and began their powerful witness to the resurrection of Christ which has since spread around the world. In human terms, it is difficult to explain how that little band of men, who were discouraged after the death of their Master, were changed into courageous missionaries who were willing to die for their faith. The biblical explanation for this extraordinary fact is that the Spirit of God transformed them into living witnesses of God's truth and love. Today is Pentecost Sunday in the church calendar when Christians commemorate that event and pray that the same Holy Spirit of God will inspire us to be faithful witnesses to the world in our day. (2579)
Captain Kidd (88/05/23)
A pirate is a person who attacks and robs ships at sea. A famous pirate in Western literature is Captain Kidd. However, the many stories about his barbaric cruelty and treasures he supposedly buried on deserted islands are unsubstantiated. Actually, Captain William Kidd was a respectable ship owner who became a privateer for Britain in her war with France. A privateer is the captain of a privately owned ship authorized by a government to attack enemy ships, during wartime. After the war, attempting to rid the seas of pirates that were disrupting British trade, Kidd himself was charged with piracy and murder. Despite political motivations behind the charges and following questionable court proceedings, Captain Kidd was hanged on May 23, 1701, 287 years ago today, leaving the world another reason why capital punishment should be abolished. (2580)
Queen Victoria (88/05/24)
The longest reigning monarch in British history was born 169 years ago today on May 24, 1819. Queen Victoria reigned for 63 years from 1837 to 1901 and left her mark on Western history in a number of ways. A low four-wheeled carriage for two with a folding top and an elevated driver's seat in front is called a victoria as is a touring car with a folding top covering the rear seat. A medal, called the Victoria Cross, is Britain's highest military award. Victorian refers to the period of Victoria's reign, considered a time of moral severity, middle-class stuffiness and pompous conservatism. Victorian architecture is massive and highly ornamented. Cities, towns and counties, a state, a lake, a mountain, an island and a waterfall in a dozen countries are named Victoria, which means victory. According to the New Testament book of I John 5:4, we gain victory over the world through faith. You are invited to attend the meeting of "Daily Word" listeners on Sunday afternoon at 1:30 at the NTT Building next to the Marunouchi Ch ūgakkō, north of the Marunouchi subway station in Nagoya. Topic for the meeting is Conformity and Nonconformity in Japanese Society. (2581)
Haywire (88/05/25)
Hay is grass which is dried and fed to cows and horses and haywire literally refers to the wire used in baling hay. Sometimes when farm tools are broken, they may be temporarily repaired using haywire. Probably for this reason, haywire came to be used informally to refer to something that is not functioning properly or is broken. Even a crazy person may be said to have gone haywire. A recent news item reported that a cash-dispensing machine in a New York bank went haywire one Sunday last month. It began sharing the bank's wealth with bank-card holders at no extra charge. Customers requesting $40 on that day received $160 instead. Those asking for $60 got $240. For the machine was mistakenly substituting $20 bills for $5 bills and customers were charged only for the amounts they requested, not for the amounts they actually received. A line of eager card holders quickly formed at the machine as word of its generosity spread. The machine that went haywire seemed to cause people to go haywire also. Machines have made life easier, but they have not changed the basic selfish nature of people. Only the Spirit of God can do that. (2582)
A human fly (88/05/26)
Have you ever wondered how a fly can walk up a wall or even upside down on a ceiling? The feet of a housefly have many small hairs ending in discs which seem to act as tiny suction cups. There is a kind of fly that is larger than a housefly called a horsefly, but have you ever heard of a human fly? Eleven years ago today George Willig, who has been called a human fly, demonstrated how a human being can climb up a smooth, vertical surface using suction cups. On May 26, 1977, Willig scaled the tallest building in New York City, the 412 meter high World Trade Center, in three and a half hours. At the conclusion of this amazing feat, he was promptly arrested for criminal trespass and reckless endangerment. I think Willig experienced the truth of the English proverb that "Danger and delight grow on one stalk". You are invited to the meeting of "Daily Word" listeners which will be held on Sunday afternoon at 1:30 at the NTT Building, Sannomaru 1-chome, Naka-ku, Nagoya, next to the Marunouchi Chūgakkō. My wife and I would be happy to meet you there when we will talk about Conformity and Nonconformity in Japanese Society. (2583)
Bloomers (88/05/27)
Styles of clothes differ depending on the time, place and occasion. Traditionally, trousers have been worn by men and boys or by women engaged in some kind of physical labor or sports activities, but nowadays women are wearing trousers even at social gatherings. When I was young, girls often wore bloomers, which are loose trousers or underpants gathered at the knees. In earlier days, bloomers were worn under a short skirt and gathered at the ankles. This word comes from the name of an American social reformer named Ameba Bloomer, who was born 170 years ago today on May 27, 1818. Mrs. Bloomer was an early promoter of women's rights and advocated wearing "sensible" dress. She insisted on wearing loose-fitting trousers as a sign of her rebellion against the sexual discrimination of her day. "Bloomer" may also refer to a plant that blooms or to a person who attains full development of his or her abilities. In the 90th Psalm, people are likened to plants that burst into bloom in the morning but dry up and die in the evening. People called "late bloomers" reach their full potential later than the average, but whether we develop them earlier or later than others, all of us have God-given abilities that we should use for the benefit of society. (2584)
Whey, weigh, way (88/05/28)
There are three different English words pronounced wei. All three are spelled differently and have completely different meanings. The most common word, spelled w-a-y, basically means a road or path but may also refer to a manner of doing something. A second word, spelled w-e-i-g-h, basically means to measure the weight of something. The third word, spelled w-h-e-y, refers to the watery part of milk that separates from curds when it sours. A movie theater in southern Brazil has found a new way to attract customers to its weekend matinees, or afternoon movies. It charges customers according to their weight. A weighing machine stands beside the box office and customers are charged about one half cent per kilogram to enter the theater. In this way, many children have been attracted to the matinees. Children who drink much whey will not weigh so much. In this way their tickets will become cheaper. In the Gospel of John, chapter 14, after a disciple said he did not know the way to heaven, Jesus replied, "I am the way... no one goes to the Father except by me." Don't forget the "Daily Word" listeners meeting tomorrow afternoon at 1:30 at the NTT Building next to the Marunouchi Chūgakkō in Naka-ku, Nagoya. (2585)
"Witness" and "Martyr" (88/05/29)
The basic meaning of "wit" is intelligence, and a "witness" is one who knows something through personal experience and testifies in public. Jesus told his disciples that they were to be his witnesses throughout the world. They were given the responsibility to share with others the truth they had seen and heard through him. The Greek word for "witness" is martus, from which we get the English word "martyr", meaning a person who is willing to suffer death rather than give up his or her faith. A martyr is one who witnesses by sacrificing his or her life for a higher principle. The story of the first Christian martyr is found in the closing verses of the 7th chapter of Acts. This man's name was Stephen, which is the Greek word for "crown". Because of his fervent witness to his faith, he was stoned to death. But his last words were a prayer to God to forgive the sins of those who were stoning him. In this way, he followed the example of his Lord, who also prayed for the forgiveness of those who crucified him. Jesus taught that we should love our enemies and pray for them. Not only did he teach this, he demonstrated it in his own life and his followers should do the same today. In Revelation 2:10, we read, "Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life." (2586)
Hachi-jū-hachi-ya (88/05/02)
Constitution Day (88/05/03)
Horace Mann (88/05/04)
Iris (88/05/05)
Calories and exercise (88/05/06)
Kentucky Derby (88/05/07)
Mother's Day (88/05/08)
"Peter Pan" (88/05/09)
Announcements (88/05/10)
Cormorant fishing (88/05/11)
Shinichi Suzuki (88/05/12)
Stevie Wonder (88/05/13)
A notorious tomcat (88/05/14)
Samaria (88/05/15)
Pebbles (88/05/16)
Tōshōgu Shrine (88/05/17)
Harry R. Truman (88/05/18)
Sports (88/05/19)
Careless error (88/05/20)
Alexander Pope (88/05/21)
Pentecost (88/05/22)
Captain Kidd (88/05/23)
Queen Victoria (88/05/24)
Haywire (88/05/25)
A human fly (88/05/26)
Bloomers (88/05/27)
Whey, weigh, way (88/05/28)
"Witness" and "Martyr" (88/05/29)
Joan of Arc (88/05/30)
Mattchi-ponpu (88/05/31)
May Day (88/05/01)